Method and apparatus for improved sub-block partitioning intra sub-partitions coding mode

ABSTRACT

A method of video decoding performed by a video decoder includes receiving a coded video bitstream including a current picture. The method further includes determining a block size of a current block coded in the intra sub-partition (ISP) coding mode. The method further includes determining a direction and number of partitions of the current block based on the determined block size. Th method further includes decoding the current block based on the determined direction and number of partitions of the current block.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/776,238,filed Jan. 29, 2020, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/798,868, “IMPROVED SUB-BLOCK PARTITIONINGINTRA SUB-PARTITIONS CODING MODE” filed on Jan. 30, 2019, which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure describes embodiments generally related to videocoding.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of thepresently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in thisbackground section, as well as aspects of the description that may nototherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neitherexpressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the presentdisclosure.

Video coding and decoding can be performed using inter-pictureprediction with motion compensation. Uncompressed digital video caninclude a series of pictures, each picture having a spatial dimensionof, for example, 1920×1080 luminance samples and associated chrominancesamples. The series of pictures can have a fixed or variable picturerate (informally also known as frame rate), of, for example 60 picturesper second or 60 Hz. Uncompressed video has significant bitraterequirements. For example, 1080p60 4:2:0 video at 8 bit per sample(1920×1080 luminance sample resolution at 60 Hz frame rate) requiresclose to 1.5 Gbit/s bandwidth. An hour of such video requires more than600 GBytes of storage space.

One purpose of video coding and decoding can be the reduction ofredundancy in the input video signal, through compression. Compressioncan help reduce the aforementioned bandwidth or storage spacerequirements, in some cases by two orders of magnitude or more. Bothlossless and lossy compression, as well as a combination thereof can beemployed. Lossless compression refers to techniques where an exact copyof the original signal can be reconstructed from the compressed originalsignal. When using lossy compression, the reconstructed signal may notbe identical to the original signal, but the distortion between originaland reconstructed signals is small enough to make the reconstructedsignal useful for the intended application. In the case of video, lossycompression is widely employed. The amount of distortion tolerateddepends on the application; for example, users of certain consumerstreaming applications may tolerate higher distortion than users oftelevision distribution applications. The compression ratio achievablecan reflect that: higher allowable/tolerable distortion can yield highercompression ratios.

A video encoder and decoder can utilize techniques from several broadcategories, including, for example, motion compensation, transform,quantization, and entropy coding.

Video codec technologies can include techniques known as intra coding.In intra coding, sample values are represented without reference tosamples or other data from previously reconstructed reference pictures.In some video codecs, the picture is spatially subdivided into blocks ofsamples. When all blocks of samples are coded in intra mode, thatpicture can be an intra picture. Intra pictures and their derivationssuch as independent decoder refresh pictures, can be used to reset thedecoder state and can, therefore, be used as the first picture in acoded video bitstream and a video session, or as a still image. Thesamples of an intra block can be exposed to a transform, and thetransform coefficients can be quantized before entropy coding. Intraprediction can be a technique that minimizes sample values in thepre-transform domain. In some cases, the smaller the DC value after atransform is, and the smaller the AC coefficients are, the fewer thebits that are required at a given quantization step size to representthe block after entropy coding.

Traditional intra coding such as known from, for example MPEG-2generation coding technologies, does not use intra prediction. However,some newer video compression technologies include techniques thatattempt, from, for example, surrounding sample data and/or metadataobtained during the encoding/decoding of spatially neighboring, andpreceding in decoding order, blocks of data. Such techniques arehenceforth called “intra prediction” techniques. Note that in at leastsome cases, intra prediction is only using reference data from thecurrent picture under reconstruction and not from reference pictures.

There can be many different forms of intra prediction. When more thanone of such techniques can be used in a given video coding technology,the technique in use can be coded in an intra prediction mode. Incertain cases, modes can have submodes and/or parameters, and those canbe coded individually or included in the mode codeword. Which codewordto use for a given mode/submode/parameter combination can have an impactin the coding efficiency gain through intra prediction, and so can theentropy coding technology used to translate the codewords into abitstream.

A certain mode of intra prediction was introduced with H.264, refined inH.265, and further refined in newer coding technologies such as jointexploration model (JEM), versatile video coding (VVC), and benchmark set(BMS). A predictor block can be formed using neighboring sample valuesbelonging to already available samples. Sample values of neighboringsamples are copied into the predictor block according to a direction. Areference to the direction in use can be coded in the bitstream or mayitself be predicted.

Referring to FIG. 1A, depicted in the lower right is a subset of ninepredictor directions known from H.265's 33 possible predictor directions(corresponding to the 33 angular modes of the 35 intra modes). The pointwhere the arrows converge (101) represents the sample being predicted.The arrows represent the direction from which the sample is beingpredicted. For example, arrow (102) indicates that sample (101) ispredicted from a sample or samples to the upper right, at a 45 degreeangle from the horizontal. Similarly, arrow (103) indicates that sample(101) is predicted from a sample or samples to the lower left of sample(101), in a 22.5 degree angle from the horizontal.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, on the top left there is depicted a squareblock (104) of 4×4 samples (indicated by a dashed, boldface line). Thesquare block (104) includes 16 samples, each labelled with an “S”, itsposition in the Y dimension (e.g., row index) and its position in the Xdimension (e.g., column index). For example, sample S21 is the secondsample in the Y dimension (from the top) and the first (from the left)sample in the X dimension. Similarly, sample S44 is the fourth sample inblock (104) in both the Y and X dimensions. As the block is 4×4 samplesin size, S44 is at the bottom right. Further shown are reference samplesthat follow a similar numbering scheme. A reference sample is labelledwith an R, its Y position (e.g., row index) and X position (columnindex) relative to block (104). In both. H.264 and H.265, predictionsamples neighbor the block under reconstruction; therefore no negativevalues need to be used.

Intra picture prediction can work by copying reference sample valuesfrom the neighboring samples as appropriated by the signaled predictiondirection. For example, assume the coded video bitstream includessignaling that, for this block, indicates a prediction directionconsistent with arrow (102)—that is, samples are predicted from aprediction sample or samples to the upper right, at a 45 degree anglefrom the horizontal. In that case, samples S41, S32, S23, and S14 arepredicted from the same reference sample R05. Sample S44 is thenpredicted from reference sample R08.

In certain cases, the values of multiple reference samples may becombined, for example through interpolation, in order to calculate areference sample; especially when the directions are not evenlydivisible by 45 degrees.

The number of possible directions has increased as video codingtechnology has developed. In H.264 (year 2003), nine different directioncould be represented. That increased to 33 in H.265 (year 2013), andJEMNVC/BMS, at the time of disclosure, can support up to 65 directions.Experiments have been conducted to identify the most likely directions,and certain techniques in the entropy coding are used to represent thoselikely directions in a small number of bits, accepting a certain penaltyfor less likely directions. Further, the directions themselves cansometimes be predicted from neighboring directions used in neighboring,already decoded, blocks.

The intra prediction modes used in HEVC are illustrated in FIG. 1B. InHEVC, there are total 35 intra prediction modes, among which mode 10 ishorizontal mode, mode 26 is vertical mode, and mode 2, mode 18 and mode34 are diagonal modes. The intra prediction modes are signalled by threemost probable modes (MPMs) and 32 remaining modes.

FIG. 1C illustrates the intra prediction modes used in VVC. In VVC,there are total 95 intra prediction modes as shown in FIG. 1C, wheremode 18 is the horizontal mode, mode 50 is the vertical mode, and mode2, mode 34 and mode 66 are diagonal modes. Modes −1 ˜−14 and Modes 67˜80are called Wide-Angle Intra Prediction (WAIP) modes.

The mapping of intra prediction directions bits in the coded videobitstream that represent the direction can be different from videocoding technology to video coding technology; and can range, forexample, from simple direct mappings of prediction direction to intraprediction mode, to codewords, to complex adaptive schemes involvingMPMs, and similar techniques. In all cases, however, there can becertain directions that are statistically less likely to occur in videocontent than certain other directions. As the goal of video compressionis the reduction of redundancy, those less likely directions will, in awell working video coding technology, be represented by a larger numberof bits than more likely directions.

SUMMARY

According to an exemplary embodiment, a method of video decodingperformed by a video decoder includes receiving a coded video bitstreamincluding a current picture. The method further includes determining ablock size of a current block coded in the intra sub-partition (ISP)coding mode. The method further includes determining a direction andnumber of partitions of the current block based on the determined blocksize. Th method further includes decoding the current block based on thedetermined direction and number of partitions of the current block.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a video decoder for video decodingincludes processing circuitry configured to: receive a coded videobitstream including a current picture, determine a block size of acurrent block coded in the intra sub-partition (ISP) coding mode,determine a direction and number of partitions of the current blockbased on the determined block size, and decode the current block basedon the determined direction and number of partitions of the currentblock.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a non-transitory computer readablemedium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by aprocessor in a video decoder causes the processor to execute a methodthat includes receiving a coded video bitstream including a currentpicture. The method further includes determining a block size of acurrent block coded in the intra sub-partition (ISP) coding mode. Themethod further includes determining a direction and number of partitionsof the current block based on the determined block size. Th methodfurther includes decoding the current block based on the determineddirection and number of partitions of the current block.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, the nature, and various advantages of the disclosedsubject matter will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of exemplary intra prediction modes.

FIG. 1B illustrates various angular modes for 35 prediction modes.

FIG. 1C illustrates various angular modes for 67 predication modes aswell as wide angle modes.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of acommunication system (200) in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of acommunication system (300) in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of adecoder in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of anencoder in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an encoder in accordance with anotherembodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a decoder in accordance with anotherembodiment.

FIG. 8A shows block partitioning in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8B shows a block partitioning tree in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 9A shows a vertical center-side ternary tree partitioning inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9B shows a horizontal center-side ternary tree partitioning inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows an example division of 4×8 and 8×4 blocks in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows an example division of all blocks except 4×8, 8×4, and 4×4blocks in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 12A shows an example of horizontal sub-partitioning for a 16×4block in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 12B shows an example of vertical sub-partitioning for a 16×4 blockin accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a video decoding process in accordance with a process.

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a computer system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a communication system(200) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thecommunication system (200) includes a plurality of terminal devices thatcan communicate with each other, via, for example, a network (250). Forexample, the communication system (200) includes a first pair ofterminal devices (210) and (220) interconnected via the network (250).In the FIG. 2 example, the first pair of terminal devices (210) and(220) performs unidirectional transmission of data. For example, theterminal device (210) may code video data (e.g., a stream of videopictures that are captured by the terminal device (210)) fortransmission to the other terminal device (220) via the network (250).The encoded video data can be transmitted in the form of one or morecoded video bitstreams. The terminal device (220) may receive the codedvideo data from the network (250), decode the coded video data torecover the video pictures and display video pictures according to therecovered video data. Unidirectional data transmission may be common inmedia serving applications and the like.

In another example, the communication system (200) includes a secondpair of terminal devices (230) and (240) that performs bidirectionaltransmission of coded video data that may occur, for example, duringvideoconferencing. For bidirectional transmission of data, in anexample, each terminal device of the terminal devices (230) and (240)may code video data (e.g., a stream of video pictures that are capturedby the terminal device) for transmission to the other terminal device ofthe terminal devices (230) and (240) via the network (250). Eachterminal device of the terminal devices (230) and (240) also may receivethe coded video data transmitted by the other terminal device of theterminal devices (230) and (240), and may decode the coded video data torecover the video pictures and may display video pictures at anaccessible display device according to the recovered video data.

In the FIG. 2 example, the terminal devices (210), (220), (230) and(240) may be illustrated as servers, personal computers and smart phonesbut the principles of the present disclosure may be not so limited.Embodiments of the present disclosure find application with laptopcomputers, tablet computers, media players and/or dedicated videoconferencing equipment. The network (250) represents any number ofnetworks that convey coded video data among the terminal devices (210),(220), (230) and (240), including for example wireline (wired) and/orwireless communication networks. The communication network (250) mayexchange data in circuit-switched and/or packet-switched channels.Representative networks include telecommunications networks, local areanetworks, wide area networks and/or the Internet. For the purposes ofthe present discussion, the architecture and topology of the network(250) may be immaterial to the operation of the present disclosureunless explained herein below.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as an example for an application for the disclosedsubject matter, the placement of a video encoder and a video decoder ina streaming environment. The disclosed subject matter can be equallyapplicable to other video enabled applications, including, for example,video conferencing, digital TV, storing of compressed video on digitalmedia including CD, DVD, memory stick and the like, and so on.

A streaming system may include a capture subsystem (313), that caninclude a video source (301), for example a digital camera, creating forexample a stream of video pictures (302) that are uncompressed. In anexample, the stream of video pictures (302) includes samples that aretaken by the digital camera. The stream of video pictures (302),depicted as a bold line to emphasize a high data volume when compared toencoded video data (304) (or coded video bitstreams), can be processedby an electronic device (320) that includes a video encoder (303)coupled to the video source (301). The video encoder (303) can includehardware, software, or a combination thereof to enable or implementaspects of the disclosed subject matter as described in more detailbelow. The encoded video data (304) (or encoded video bitstream (304)),depicted as a thin line to emphasize the lower data volume when comparedto the stream of video pictures (302), can be stored on a streamingserver (305) for future use. One or more streaming client subsystems,such as client subsystems (306) and (308) in FIG. 3 can access thestreaming server (305) to retrieve copies (307) and (309) of the encodedvideo data (304). A client subsystem (306) can include a video decoder(310), for example, in an electronic device (330). The video decoder(310) decodes the incoming copy (307) of the encoded video data andcreates an outgoing stream of video pictures (311) that can be renderedon a display (312) (e.g., display screen) or other rendering device (notdepicted). In some streaming systems, the encoded video data (304),(307), and (309) (e.g., video bitstreams) can be encoded according tocertain video coding/compression standards. Examples of those standardsinclude ITU-T Recommendation H.265. In an example, a video codingstandard under development is informally known as Versatile Video Coding(VVC). The disclosed subject matter may be used in the context of VVC.

It is noted that the electronic devices (320) and (330) can includeother components (not shown). For example, the electronic device (320)can include a video decoder (not shown) and the electronic device (330)can include a video encoder (not shown) as well.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a video decoder (410) according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. The video decoder (410) can beincluded in an electronic device (430). The electronic device (430) caninclude a receiver (431) (e.g., receiving circuitry). The video decoder(410) can be used in the place of the video decoder (310) in the FIG. 3example.

The receiver (431) may receive one or more coded video sequences to bedecoded by the video decoder (410); in the same or another embodiment,one coded video sequence at a time, where the decoding of each codedvideo sequence is independent from other coded video sequences. Thecoded video sequence may be received from a channel (401), which may bea hardware/software link to a storage device which stores the encodedvideo data. The receiver (431) may receive the encoded video data withother data, for example, coded audio data and/or ancillary data streams,that may be forwarded to their respective using entities (not depicted).The receiver (431) may separate the coded video sequence from the otherdata. To combat network jitter, a buffer memory (415) may be coupled inbetween the receiver (431) and an entropy decoder/parser (420) (“parser(420)” henceforth). In certain applications, the buffer memory (415) ispart of the video decoder (410). In others, it can be outside of thevideo decoder (410) (not depicted). In still others, there can be abuffer memory (not depicted) outside of the video decoder (410), forexample to combat network jitter, and in addition another buffer memory(415) inside the video decoder (410), for example to handle playouttiming. When the receiver (431) is receiving data from a store/forwarddevice of sufficient bandwidth and controllability, or from anisosynchronous network, the buffer memory (415) may not be needed, orcan be small. For use on best effort packet networks such as theInternet, the buffer memory (415) may be required, can be comparativelylarge and can be advantageously of adaptive size, and may at leastpartially be implemented in an operating system or similar elements (notdepicted) outside of the video decoder (410).

The video decoder (410) may include the parser (420) to reconstructsymbols (421) from the coded video sequence. Categories of those symbolsinclude information used to manage operation of the video decoder (410),and potentially information to control a rendering device such as arender device (412) (e.g., a display screen) that is not an integralpart of the electronic device (430) but can be coupled to the electronicdevice (430), as was shown in FIG. 4 . The control information for therendering device(s) may be in the form of Supplemental EnhancementInformation (SEI messages) or Video Usability Information (VUI)parameter set fragments (not depicted). The parser (420) mayparse/entropy-decode the coded video sequence that is received. Thecoding of the coded video sequence can be in accordance with a videocoding technology or standard, and can follow various principles,including variable length coding, Huffman coding, arithmetic coding withor without context sensitivity, and so forth. The parser (420) mayextract from the coded video sequence, a set of subgroup parameters forat least one of the subgroups of pixels in the video decoder, based uponat least one parameter corresponding to the group. Subgroups can includeGroups of Pictures (GOPs), pictures, tiles, slices, macroblocks, CodingUnits (CUs), blocks, Transform Units (TUs), Prediction Units (PUs) andso forth. The parser (420) may also extract from the coded videosequence information such as transform coefficients, quantizer parametervalues, motion vectors, and so forth.

The parser (420) may perform an entropy decoding/parsing operation onthe video sequence received from the buffer memory (415), so as tocreate symbols (421).

Reconstruction of the symbols (421) can involve multiple different unitsdepending on the type of the coded video picture or parts thereof (suchas: inter and intra picture, inter and intra block), and other factors.Which units are involved, and how, can be controlled by the subgroupcontrol information that was parsed from the coded video sequence by theparser (420). The flow of such subgroup control information between theparser (420) and the multiple units below is not depicted for clarity.

Beyond the functional blocks already mentioned, the video decoder (410)can be conceptually subdivided into a number of functional units asdescribed below. In a practical implementation operating undercommercial constraints, many of these units interact closely with eachother and can, at least partly, be integrated into each other. However,for the purpose of describing the disclosed subject matter, theconceptual subdivision into the functional units below is appropriate.

A first unit is the scaler/inverse transform unit (451). Thescaler/inverse transform unit (451) receives a quantized transformcoefficient as well as control information, including which transform touse, block size, quantization factor, quantization scaling matrices,etc. as symbol(s) (421) from the parser (420). The scaler/inversetransform unit (451) can output blocks comprising sample values, thatcan be input into aggregator (455).

In some cases, the output samples of the scaler/inverse transform (451)can pertain to an intra coded block; that is: a block that is not usingpredictive information from previously reconstructed pictures, but canuse predictive information from previously reconstructed parts of thecurrent picture. Such predictive information can be provided by an intrapicture prediction unit (452). In some cases, the intra pictureprediction unit (452) generates a block of the same size and shape ofthe block under reconstruction, using surrounding already reconstructedinformation fetched from the current picture buffer (458). The currentpicture buffer (458) buffers, for example, partly reconstructed currentpicture and/or fully reconstructed current picture. The aggregator(455), in some cases, adds, on a per sample basis, the predictioninformation the intra prediction unit (452) has generated to the outputsample information as provided by the scaler/inverse transform unit(451).

In other cases, the output samples of the scaler/inverse transform unit(451) can pertain to an inter coded, and potentially motion compensatedblock. In such a case, a motion compensation prediction unit (453) canaccess reference picture memory (457) to fetch samples used forprediction. After motion compensating the fetched samples in accordancewith the symbols (421) pertaining to the block, these samples can beadded by the aggregator (455) to the output of the scaler/inversetransform unit (451) (in this case called the residual samples orresidual signal) so as to generate output sample information. Theaddresses within the reference picture memory (457) from where themotion compensation prediction unit (453) fetches prediction samples canbe controlled by motion vectors, available to the motion compensationprediction unit (453) in the form of symbols (421) that can have, forexample X, Y, and reference picture components. Motion compensation alsocan include interpolation of sample values as fetched from the referencepicture memory (457) when sub-sample exact motion vectors are in use,motion vector prediction mechanisms, and so forth.

The output samples of the aggregator (455) can be subject to variousloop filtering techniques in the loop filter unit (456). Videocompression technologies can include in-loop filter technologies thatare controlled by parameters included in the coded video sequence (alsoreferred to as coded video bitstream) and made available to the loopfilter unit (456) as symbols (421) from the parser (420), but can alsobe responsive to meta-information obtained during the decoding ofprevious (in decoding order) parts of the coded picture or coded videosequence, as well as responsive to previously reconstructed andloop-filtered sample values.

The output of the loop filter unit (456) can be a sample stream that canbe output to the render device (412) as well as stored in the referencepicture memory (457) for use in future inter-picture prediction.

Certain coded pictures, once fully reconstructed, can be used asreference pictures for future prediction. For example, once a codedpicture corresponding to a current picture is fully reconstructed andthe coded picture has been identified as a reference picture (by, forexample, the parser (420)), the current picture buffer (458) can becomea part of the reference picture memory (457), and a fresh currentpicture buffer can be reallocated before commencing the reconstructionof the following coded picture.

The video decoder (410) may perform decoding operations according to apredetermined video compression technology in a standard, such as ITU-TRec. H.265. The coded video sequence may conform to a syntax specifiedby the video compression technology or standard being used, in the sensethat the coded video sequence adheres to both the syntax of the videocompression technology or standard and the profiles as documented in thevideo compression technology or standard. Specifically, a profile canselect certain tools as the only tools available for use under thatprofile from all the tools available in the video compression technologyor standard. Also necessary for compliance can be that the complexity ofthe coded video sequence is within bounds as defined by the level of thevideo compression technology or standard. In some cases, levels restrictthe maximum picture size, maximum frame rate, maximum reconstructionsample rate (measured in, for example megasamples per second), maximumreference picture size, and so on. Limits set by levels can, in somecases, be further restricted through Hypothetical Reference Decoder(HRD) specifications and metadata for HRD buffer management signaled inthe coded video sequence.

In an embodiment, the receiver (431) may receive additional (redundant)data with the encoded video. The additional data may be included as partof the coded video sequence(s). The additional data may be used by thevideo decoder (410) to properly decode the data and/or to moreaccurately reconstruct the original video data. Additional data can bein the form of, for example, temporal, spatial, or signal noise ratio(SNR) enhancement layers, redundant slices, redundant pictures, forwarderror correction codes, and so on.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a video encoder (503) according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. The video encoder (503) isincluded in an electronic device (520). The electronic device (520)includes a transmitter (540) (e.g., transmitting circuitry). The videoencoder (503) can be used in the place of the video encoder (303) in theFIG. 3 example.

The video encoder (503) may receive video samples from a video source(501) (that is not part of the electronic device (520) in the FIG. 5example) that may capture video image(s) to be coded by the videoencoder (503). In another example, the video source (501) is a part ofthe electronic device (520).

The video source (501) may provide the source video sequence to be codedby the video encoder (503) in the form of a digital video sample streamthat can be of any suitable bit depth (for example: 8 bit, 10 bit, 12bit, . . . ), any colorspace (for example, BT.601 Y CrCB, RGB, . . . ),and any suitable sampling structure (for example Y CrCb 4:2:0, Y CrCb4:4:4). In a media serving system, the video source (501) may be astorage device storing previously prepared video. In a videoconferencingsystem, the video source (501) may be a camera that captures local imageinformation as a video sequence. Video data may be provided as aplurality of individual pictures that impart motion when viewed insequence. The pictures themselves may be organized as a spatial array ofpixels, wherein each pixel can comprise one or more samples depending onthe sampling structure, color space, etc. in use. A person skilled inthe art can readily understand the relationship between pixels andsamples. The description below focuses on samples.

According to an embodiment, the video encoder (503) may code andcompress the pictures of the source video sequence into a coded videosequence (543) in real time or under any other time constraints asrequired by the application. Enforcing appropriate coding speed is onefunction of a controller (550). In some embodiments, the controller(550) controls other functional units as described below and isfunctionally coupled to the other functional units. The coupling is notdepicted for clarity. Parameters set by the controller (550) can includerate control related parameters (picture skip, quantizer, lambda valueof rate-distortion optimization techniques, . . . ), picture size, groupof pictures (GOP) layout, maximum motion vector search range, and soforth. The controller (550) can be configured to have other suitablefunctions that pertain to the video encoder (503) optimized for acertain system design.

In some embodiments, the video encoder (503) is configured to operate ina coding loop. As an oversimplified description, in an example, thecoding loop can include a source coder (530) (e.g., responsible forcreating symbols, such as a symbol stream, based on an input picture tobe coded, and a reference picture(s)), and a (local) decoder (533)embedded in the video encoder (503). The decoder (533) reconstructs thesymbols to create the sample data in a similar manner as a (remote)decoder also would create (as any compression between symbols and codedvideo bitstream is lossless in the video compression technologiesconsidered in the disclosed subject matter). The reconstructed samplestream (sample data) is input to the reference picture memory (534). Asthe decoding of a symbol stream leads to bit-exact results independentof decoder location (local or remote), the content in the referencepicture memory (534) is also bit exact between the local encoder andremote encoder. In other words, the prediction part of an encoder “sees”as reference picture samples exactly the same sample values as a decoderwould “see” when using prediction during decoding. This fundamentalprinciple of reference picture synchronicity (and resulting drift, ifsynchronicity cannot be maintained, for example because of channelerrors) is used in some related arts as well.

The operation of the “local” decoder (533) can be the same as of a“remote” decoder, such as the video decoder (410), which has alreadybeen described in detail above in conjunction with FIG. 4 . Brieflyreferring also to FIG. 4 , however, as symbols are available andencoding/decoding of symbols to a coded video sequence by an entropycoder (545) and the parser (420) can be lossless, the entropy decodingparts of the video decoder (410), including the buffer memory (415), andparser (420) may not be fully implemented in the local decoder (533).

An observation that can be made at this point is that any decodertechnology except the parsing/entropy decoding that is present in adecoder also necessarily needs to be present, in substantially identicalfunctional form, in a corresponding encoder. For this reason, thedisclosed subject matter focuses on decoder operation. The descriptionof encoder technologies can be abbreviated as they are the inverse ofthe comprehensively described decoder technologies. Only in certainareas a more detail description is required and provided below.

During operation, in some examples, the source coder (530) may performmotion compensated predictive coding, which codes an input picturepredictively with reference to one or more previously-coded picture fromthe video sequence that were designated as “reference pictures”. In thismanner, the coding engine (532) codes differences between pixel blocksof an input picture and pixel blocks of reference picture(s) that may beselected as prediction reference(s) to the input picture.

The local video decoder (533) may decode coded video data of picturesthat may be designated as reference pictures, based on symbols createdby the source coder (530). Operations of the coding engine (532) mayadvantageously be lossy processes. When the coded video data may bedecoded at a video decoder (not shown in FIG. 5 ), the reconstructedvideo sequence typically may be a replica of the source video sequencewith some errors. The local video decoder (533) replicates decodingprocesses that may be performed by the video decoder on referencepictures and may cause reconstructed reference pictures to be stored inthe reference picture cache (534). In this manner, the video encoder(503) may store copies of reconstructed reference pictures locally thathave common content as the reconstructed reference pictures that will beobtained by a far-end video decoder (absent transmission errors).

The predictor (535) may perform prediction searches for the codingengine (532). That is, for a new picture to be coded, the predictor(535) may search the reference picture memory (534) for sample data (ascandidate reference pixel blocks) or certain metadata such as referencepicture motion vectors, block shapes, and so on, that may serve as anappropriate prediction reference for the new pictures. The predictor(535) may operate on a sample block-by-pixel block basis to findappropriate prediction references. In some cases, as determined bysearch results obtained by the predictor (535), an input picture mayhave prediction references drawn from multiple reference pictures storedin the reference picture memory (534).

The controller (550) may manage coding operations of the source coder(530), including, for example, setting of parameters and subgroupparameters used for encoding the video data.

Output of all aforementioned functional units may be subjected toentropy coding in the entropy coder (545). The entropy coder (545)translates the symbols as generated by the various functional units intoa coded video sequence, by lossless compressing the symbols according totechnologies such as Huffman coding, variable length coding, arithmeticcoding, and so forth.

The transmitter (540) may buffer the coded video sequence(s) as createdby the entropy coder (545) to prepare for transmission via acommunication channel (560), which may be a hardware/software link to astorage device which would store the encoded video data. The transmitter(540) may merge coded video data from the video coder (503) with otherdata to be transmitted, for example, coded audio data and/or ancillarydata streams (sources not shown).

The controller (550) may manage operation of the video encoder (503).During coding, the controller (550) may assign to each coded picture acertain coded picture type, which may affect the coding techniques thatmay be applied to the respective picture. For example, pictures oftenmay be assigned as one of the following picture types:

An Intra Picture (I picture) may be one that may be coded and decodedwithout using any other picture in the sequence as a source ofprediction. Some video codecs allow for different types of intrapictures, including, for example Independent Decoder Refresh (“IDR”)Pictures. A person skilled in the art is aware of those variants of Ipictures and their respective applications and features.

A predictive picture (P picture) may be one that may be coded anddecoded using intra prediction or inter prediction using at most onemotion vector and reference index to predict the sample values of eachblock.

A bi-directionally predictive picture (B Picture) may be one that may becoded and decoded using intra prediction or inter prediction using atmost two motion vectors and reference indices to predict the samplevalues of each block. Similarly, multiple-predictive pictures can usemore than two reference pictures and associated metadata for thereconstruction of a single block.

Source pictures commonly may be subdivided spatially into a plurality ofsample blocks (for example, blocks of 4×4, 8×8, 4×8, or 16×16 sampleseach) and coded on a block-by-block basis. Blocks may be codedpredictively with reference to other (already coded) blocks asdetermined by the coding assignment applied to the blocks' respectivepictures. For example, blocks of I pictures may be codednon-predictively or they may be coded predictively with reference toalready coded blocks of the same picture (spatial prediction or intraprediction). Pixel blocks of P pictures may be coded predictively, viaspatial prediction or via temporal prediction with reference to onepreviously coded reference picture. Blocks of B pictures may be codedpredictively, via spatial prediction or via temporal prediction withreference to one or two previously coded reference pictures.

The video encoder (503) may perform coding operations according to apredetermined video coding technology or standard, such as ITU-T Rec.H.265. In its operation, the video encoder (503) may perform variouscompression operations, including predictive coding operations thatexploit temporal and spatial redundancies in the input video sequence.The coded video data, therefore, may conform to a syntax specified bythe video coding technology or standard being used.

In an embodiment, the transmitter (540) may transmit additional datawith the encoded video. The source coder (530) may include such data aspart of the coded video sequence. Additional data may comprisetemporal/spatial/SNR enhancement layers, other forms of redundant datasuch as redundant pictures and slices, SEI messages, VUI parameter setfragments, and so on.

A video may be captured as a plurality of source pictures (videopictures) in a temporal sequence. Intra-picture prediction (oftenabbreviated to intra prediction) makes use of spatial correlation in agiven picture, and inter-picture prediction makes uses of the (temporalor other) correlation between the pictures. In an example, a specificpicture under encoding/decoding, which is referred to as a currentpicture, is partitioned into blocks. When a block in the current pictureis similar to a reference block in a previously coded and still bufferedreference picture in the video, the block in the current picture can becoded by a vector that is referred to as a motion vector. The motionvector points to the reference block in the reference picture, and canhave a third dimension identifying the reference picture, in casemultiple reference pictures are in use.

In some embodiments, a bi-prediction technique can be used in theinter-picture prediction. According to the bi-prediction technique, tworeference pictures, such as a first reference picture and a secondreference picture that are both prior in decoding order to the currentpicture in the video (but may be in the past and future, respectively,in display order) are used. A block in the current picture can be codedby a first motion vector that points to a first reference block in thefirst reference picture, and a second motion vector that points to asecond reference block in the second reference picture. The block can bepredicted by a combination of the first reference block and the secondreference block.

Further, a merge mode technique can be used in the inter-pictureprediction to improve coding efficiency.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, predictions, such asinter-picture predictions and intra-picture predictions are performed inthe unit of blocks. For example, according to the HEVC standard, apicture in a sequence of video pictures is partitioned into coding treeunits (CTU) for compression, the CTUs in a picture have the same size,such as 64×64 pixels, 32×32 pixels, or 16×16 pixels. In general, a CTUincludes three coding tree blocks (CTBs), which are one luma CTB and twochroma CTBs. Each CTU can be recursively quadtree split into one ormultiple coding units (CUs). For example, a CTU of 64×64 pixels can besplit into one CU of 64×64 pixels, or 4 CUs of 32×32 pixels, or 16 CUsof 16×16 pixels. In an example, each CU is analyzed to determine aprediction type for the CU, such as an inter prediction type or an intraprediction type. The CU is split into one or more prediction units (PUs)depending on the temporal and/or spatial predictability. Generally, eachPU includes a luma prediction block (PB), and two chroma PBs. In anembodiment, a prediction operation in coding (encoding/decoding) isperformed in the unit of a prediction block. Using a luma predictionblock as an example of a prediction block, the prediction block includesa matrix of values (e.g., luma values) for pixels, such as 8×8 pixels,16×16 pixels, 8×16 pixels, 16×8 pixels, and the like.

FIG. 6 shows a diagram of a video encoder (603) according to anotherembodiment of the disclosure. The video encoder (603) is configured toreceive a processing block (e.g., a prediction block) of sample valueswithin a current video picture in a sequence of video pictures, andencode the processing block into a coded picture that is part of a codedvideo sequence. In an example, the video encoder (603) is used in theplace of the video encoder (303) in the FIG. 3 example.

In an HEVC example, the video encoder (603) receives a matrix of samplevalues for a processing block, such as a prediction block of 8×8samples, and the like. The video encoder (603) determines whether theprocessing block is best coded using intra mode, inter mode, orbi-prediction mode using, for example, rate-distortion optimization.When the processing block is to be coded in intra mode, the videoencoder (603) may use an intra prediction technique to encode theprocessing block into the coded picture; and when the processing blockis to be coded in inter mode or bi-prediction mode, the video encoder(603) may use an inter prediction or bi-prediction technique,respectively, to encode the processing block into the coded picture. Incertain video coding technologies, merge mode can be an inter pictureprediction submode where the motion vector is derived from one or moremotion vector predictors without the benefit of a coded motion vectorcomponent outside the predictors. In certain other video codingtechnologies, a motion vector component applicable to the subject blockmay be present. In an example, the video encoder (603) includes othercomponents, such as a mode decision module (not shown) to determine themode of the processing blocks.

In the FIG. 6 example, the video encoder (603) includes the interencoder (630), an intra encoder (622), a residue calculator (623), aswitch (626), a residue encoder (624), a general controller (621), andan entropy encoder (625) coupled together as shown in FIG. 6 .

The inter encoder (630) is configured to receive the samples of thecurrent block (e.g., a processing block), compare the block to one ormore reference blocks in reference pictures (e.g., blocks in previouspictures and later pictures), generate inter prediction information(e.g., description of redundant information according to inter encodingtechnique, motion vectors, merge mode information), and calculate interprediction results (e.g., predicted block) based on the inter predictioninformation using any suitable technique. In some examples, thereference pictures are decoded reference pictures that are decoded basedon the encoded video information.

The intra encoder (622) is configured to receive the samples of thecurrent block (e.g., a processing block), in some cases compare theblock to blocks already coded in the same picture, generate quantizedcoefficients after transform, and in some cases also intra predictioninformation (e.g., an intra prediction direction information accordingto one or more intra encoding techniques). In an example, the intraencoder (622) also calculates intra prediction results (e.g., predictedblock) based on the intra prediction information and reference blocks inthe same picture.

The general controller (621) is configured to determine general controldata and control other components of the video encoder (603) based onthe general control data. In an example, the general controller (621)determines the mode of the block, and provides a control signal to theswitch (626) based on the mode. For example, when the mode is the intramode, the general controller (621) controls the switch (626) to selectthe intra mode result for use by the residue calculator (623), andcontrols the entropy encoder (625) to select the intra predictioninformation and include the intra prediction information in thebitstream; and when the mode is the inter mode, the general controller(621) controls the switch (626) to select the inter prediction resultfor use by the residue calculator (623), and controls the entropyencoder (625) to select the inter prediction information and include theinter prediction information in the bitstream.

The residue calculator (623) is configured to calculate a difference(residue data) between the received block and prediction resultsselected from the intra encoder (622) or the inter encoder (630). Theresidue encoder (624) is configured to operate based on the residue datato encode the residue data to generate the transform coefficients. In anexample, the residue encoder (624) is configured to convert the residuedata from a spatial domain to a frequency domain, and generate thetransform coefficients. The transform coefficients are then subject toquantization processing to obtain quantized transform coefficients. Invarious embodiments, the video encoder (603) also includes a residuedecoder (628). The residue decoder (628) is configured to performinverse-transform, and generate the decoded residue data. The decodedresidue data can be suitably used by the intra encoder (622) and theinter encoder (630). For example, the inter encoder (630) can generatedecoded blocks based on the decoded residue data and inter predictioninformation, and the intra encoder (622) can generate decoded blocksbased on the decoded residue data and the intra prediction information.The decoded blocks are suitably processed to generate decoded picturesand the decoded pictures can be buffered in a memory circuit (not shown)and used as reference pictures in some examples.

The entropy encoder (625) is configured to format the bitstream toinclude the encoded block. The entropy encoder (625) is configured toinclude various information according to a suitable standard, such asthe HEVC standard. In an example, the entropy encoder (625) isconfigured to include the general control data, the selected predictioninformation (e.g., intra prediction information or inter predictioninformation), the residue information, and other suitable information inthe bitstream. Note that, according to the disclosed subject matter,when coding a block in the merge submode of either inter mode orbi-prediction mode, there is no residue information.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a video decoder (710) according to anotherembodiment of the disclosure. The video decoder (710) is configured toreceive coded pictures that are part of a coded video sequence, anddecode the coded pictures to generate reconstructed pictures. In anexample, the video decoder (710) is used in the place of the videodecoder (310) in the FIG. 3 example.

In the FIG. 7 example, the video decoder (710) includes an entropydecoder (771), an inter decoder (780), a residue decoder (773), areconstruction module (774), and an intra decoder (772) coupled togetheras shown in FIG. 7 .

The entropy decoder (771) can be configured to reconstruct, from thecoded picture, certain symbols that represent the syntax elements ofwhich the coded picture is made up. Such symbols can include, forexample, the mode in which a block is coded (such as, for example, intramode, inter mode, bi-predicted mode, the latter two in merge submode oranother submode), prediction information (such as, for example, intraprediction information or inter prediction information) that canidentify certain sample or metadata that is used for prediction by theintra decoder (772) or the inter decoder (780), respectively, residualinformation in the form of, for example, quantized transformcoefficients, and the like. In an example, when the prediction mode isinter or bi-predicted mode, the inter prediction information is providedto the inter decoder (780); and when the prediction type is the intraprediction type, the intra prediction information is provided to theintra decoder (772). The residual information can be subject to inversequantization and is provided to the residue decoder (773).

The inter decoder (780) is configured to receive the inter predictioninformation, and generate inter prediction results based on the interprediction information.

The intra decoder (772) is configured to receive the intra predictioninformation, and generate prediction results based on the intraprediction information.

The residue decoder (773) is configured to perform inverse quantizationto extract de-quantized transform coefficients, and process thede-quantized transform coefficients to convert the residual from thefrequency domain to the spatial domain. The residue decoder (773) mayalso require certain control information (to include the QuantizerParameter (QP)), and that information may be provided by the entropydecoder (771) (data path not depicted as this may be low volume controlinformation only).

The reconstruction module (774) is configured to combine, in the spatialdomain, the residual as output by the residue decoder (773) and theprediction results (as output by the inter or intra prediction modulesas the case may be) to form a reconstructed block, that may be part ofthe reconstructed picture, which in turn may be part of thereconstructed video. It is noted that other suitable operations, such asa deblocking operation and the like, can be performed to improve thevisual quality.

It is noted that the video encoders (303), (503), and (603), and thevideo decoders (310), (410), and (710) can be implemented using anysuitable technique. In an embodiment, the video encoders (303), (503),and (603), and the video decoders (310), (410), and (710) can beimplemented using one or more integrated circuits. In anotherembodiment, the video encoders (303), (503), and (503), and the videodecoders (310), (410), and (710) can be implemented using one or moreprocessors that execute software instructions.

According to some embodiments, a CTU is split into CUs by using a quadtree binary tree (QTBT) structure denoted as a coding tree to adapt tovarious local characteristics of individual blocks included in the CUs.The decision whether to code a picture area using inter-picture(temporal) or intra-picture (spatial) prediction may be performed at theCU level. Each CU may be further split into one, two or four PUsaccording to a PU splitting type. In some embodiments, inside one PU,the same prediction process is applied and the relevant information istransmitted to the decoder on a PU basis. After obtaining the residualblock by applying the prediction process based on the PU splitting type,a CU may be partitioned into TUs according to another quad treestructure similar to the quad tree structure used for the coding treefor the CTU. In some other embodiments, a PU contains only one TU thathas the same shape as the PU.

The coding tree for the CTU may include multiple partition typesincluding CU, PU, and TU. In some embodiments, a CU or a TU is only asquare shape, while a PU may be square or rectangular shape for an interpredicted block. In other embodiments, rectangular shaped CUs, PUs, andTUs are permitted. At a picture boundary, an implicit quad tree splitmay be applied so that a block will keep quad tree splitting until thesize of the split block fits the picture boundary. According to someembodiments, an implicit split means that a split flag is not signaledbut implied instead. For example, implicit QT means only a QT split isallowed for a pictureboundary block. As such, the split flag is notsignaled at the picture boundary. As an another example, when only a BTsplit is allowed at the picture boundary, the implicit split is thebinary split. In some embodiments, when both QT and BT are allowed atthe picture boundary, there is no implicit split, and the split methodis explicitly signaled.

According to some embodiments, the QTBT structure does not includemultiple partition types (e.g., QTBT does not include the separation ofthe CU, PU and TU), and supports more flexibility for CU partitionshapes. For example, in the QTBT block structure, a CU may have either asquare or rectangular shape. FIG. 8A illustrates an example CTU (800)that is partitioned by the QTBT structure. For example, the CTU (800) ispartitioned into four equal sized sub-CUs (A), (B), (C), and (D). FIG.8B illustrates a corresponding coding tree that illustrates branchescorresponding to sub-CUs (A), (B), (C), and (D). The solid linesindicate quad tree splitting, and the dotted lines indicate binary treesplitting. The binary tree structure may include two splitting types:(i) symmetric horizontal splitting and (ii) symmetric verticalsplitting. In each splitting (i.e., non-leaf) node of the binary tree,one flag may be signalled to indicate which splitting type (e.g.,horizontal or vertical) is used, where 0 indicates horizontal splittingand 1 indicates vertical splitting or vice versa. For the quad treesplitting, the splitting type is not indicated since quad tree splittingsplits a block both horizontally and vertically to produce 4 sub-blockswith an equal size.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8 B, the sub-CU (A) is first partitionedinto two sub-blocks by a vertical split, where the left sub-block ispartitioned again by another vertical split. The sub-CU (B) is furtherpartitioned by a horizontal split. The sub-CU (C) is further partitionedby another quad split partition. The upper left sub-block of sub-CU (C)is partitioned by a vertical split, and subsequently partitioned by ahorizontal split. Furthermore, the lower right sub-block of sub-CU (C)is partitioned by a horizontal split. The upper right and lower leftsub-blocks of sub-CU (C) are not further partitioned. The sub-CU (D) isnot partitioned further and thus, does not include any additional leafnodes in the coding tree below the “D” branch.

The binary tree leaf nodes may be referred to as CUs, where the binarysplitting may be used for prediction and transform processing withoutany further partitioning, which means that the CU, PU, and TU have thesame block size in the QTBT coding block structure. A CU may includecoding blocks (CBs) of different colour components. For example, one CUmay contain one luma CB and two chroma CBs in the case of P and B slicesof a 4:2:0 chroma format, and sometimes contain a CB of a singlecomponent (e.g., one CU contains only one luma CB or just two chroma CBsin the case of Intra-pictures or I slices). In some embodiments, inintra-pictures or I-slices, the TU width or height is constrained to notexceed a given limit (e.g., 64 for luma and 32 for chroma). If the CBwidth or height is larger than the limit, then the TU is further splituntil the TU's size does not exceed the limit.

According to some embodiments, the QTBT partitioning scheme includes thefollowing parameters:

-   CTU size: the root node size of a quad tree-   MinQTSize: the minimum allowed quad tree leaf node size-   MaxBTSize: the maximum allowed binary tree root node size-   MaxBTDepth: the maximum allowed binary tree depth-   MinBTSke: the minimum allowed binary tree leaf node size

In one example of the QTBT partitioning structure, the CTU size is setas 128×128 luma samples with two corresponding 64×64 blocks of chromasamples, the MinQTSize is set as 16×16, the MaxBTSize is set as 64×64,the MinBTSize (for both width and height) is set as 4×4, and theMaxBTDepth is set as 4. The QTBT partitioning structure is applied tothe CTU first to generate quad tree leaf nodes. The quad tree leaf nodesmay have a size from 16×16 (i.e., the MinQTSize) to 128×128 (i.e., theCTU size). If the leaf quad tree node is 128×128, the leaf quad treenode will not be further split by the binary tree since the size exceedsthe MaxBTSize (i.e., 64×64). Otherwise, the leaf quad tree node may befurther partitioned by the binary tree. Therefore, the quad tree leafnode is also the root node for the binary tree and the quad tree leafhas the binary tree depth as 0. When the binary tree depth reaches theMaxBTDepth (e.g., 4), no further splitting is performed. When the binarytree node has width equal to the MinBTSize (e.g., 4), no furtherhorizontal splitting is performed. Similarly, when the binary tree nodehas a height equal to MinBTSize, no further vertical splitting isperformed. The leaf nodes of the binary tree are further processed byprediction and transform processing without any further partitioning. Insome embodiments, the maximum CTU size is 256×256 luma samples.

The QTBT partition structure may further support the ability for theluma and chroma components to each have separate QTBT structures. Forexample, for P and B slices, the luma and chroma CTBs in one CTU mayshare the same QTBT structure. However, for I slices, the luma CTB ispartitioned into CUs by a QTBT structure, and the chroma CTBs arepartitioned into chroma CUs by another QTBT structure. Therefore, inthis example, a CU in an I slice contains a coding block of the lumacomponent or coding blocks of two chroma components, and a CU in a P orB slice contains coding blocks of all three colour components.

In some embodiments, inter prediction for small blocks is restricted toreduce the memory access requirements of motion compensation, such thatbi-prediction is not supported for 4×8 and 8×4 blocks, and interprediction is not supported for 4×4 blocks. In other embodiments, theQTBT partition scheme does not include these restrictions.

According to some embodiments, a Multi-type-tree (MIT) structureincludes (i) quad tree splitting, (ii) binary tree splitting, and (iii)horizontal and vertical center-side ternary trees. FIG. 9A illustratesan embodiment of a vertical center-side ternary tree and FIG. 9Billustrates an example of a horizontal center-side ternary tree.Compared to the QTBT structure, MTT can be a more flexible treestructure since additional structures are permitted.

Ternary tree partitioning includes significantly advantageous featuressuch as providing a complement to quad tree and binary tree partitioningwhere ternary tree partitioning is able to capture objects which arelocated in a block center, whereas quad tree and binary tree split alongthe block center. As another advantage of ternary tree partitioning, thewidth and height of the partitions of the proposed ternary trees are apower of 2 so that no additional transforms are needed. A two-level treeprovides the advantage of complexity reduction. As an example, thecomplexity of traversing a tree is TD, where T denotes the number ofsplit types, and D is the depth of tree.

According to some embodiments, the Intra Sub-Partition (ISP) coding modedivides luma intra-predicted blocks vertically or horizontally into 2 or4 sub-partitions depending on the block size dimensions, as shown inTABLE 1. FIGS. 10 and 11 show examples of two possible partitions. Asillustrated in FIG. 10 , a block 1000 coded in the ISP mode may besub-partitioned horizontally or vertically into two equally sizedblocks. As illustrated in FIG. 11 , a block 1100 coded in the ISP modemay be sub-partitioned horizontally or vertically into four equallysized blocks. In some examples, all sub-partitions fulfill the conditionof having at least 16 samples. In some embodiments, for chromacomponents, ISP is not applied.

TABLE 1 Number of Block Size Sub-Partitions 4 × 4 Not divided 4 × 8 and8 × 4 2 All other cases 4

According to some embodiments, for each of the sub-partitions in the ISPcoding mode, a residual signal is generated by entropy decoding thecoefficients sent by the encoder and then inverse quantizing and inversetransforming them. Subsequently, the sub-partition may be intrapredicted, and the corresponding reconstructed samples may be obtainedby adding the residual signal to the prediction signal. Therefore, thereconstructed values of each sub-partition will be available to generatethe prediction of the sub-partitions of the next block, where thisprocess is repeated iteratively. In some embodiments, all sub-partitionsshare the same intra mode.

According to some embodiments, the ISP algorithm will only be testedwith intra modes that are part of the MPM list. Therefore, if a blockuses ISP, then the MPM flag will be inferred to be one. Furthermore, ifISP is used for a certain block, then the MPM list will be modified toexclude the DC mode and to prioritize horizontal intra modes for the ISPhorizontal split and vertical intra modes for the ISP vertical split. InISP, each sub-partition may be regarded as a sub-TU since the transformand reconstruction is performed individually for each sub-partition.

In the current implementation of the ISP coding mode, the number ofsub-TU partitions can be only 2 or 4, which is block shape dependent.However, this fixed number of sub-TU partitions may be not optimal foreach block shape. Furthermore, in the current implementation of the ISPcoding mode, given a certain block shape, both horizontal and verticalsub-TU partitioning may be supported as long as the resulting sub-TUsize has both a width and a height being larger than or equal to 4.However, given already coded information, such as block shape, there maybe a difference on the preference between horizontal and vertical sub-TUpartitioning patterns. According to some embodiments, the term block maybe interpreted as a prediction block, a coding block, or a coding unit(i.e., CU).

According to some embodiments, if one neighboring mode is not Planar orDC mode, or one neighboring mode is generating prediction samplesaccording to a given prediction direction, such as intra prediction mode2˜66, this mode is called angular mode. If one mode is not indicating adirectional intra prediction, such as Planar or DC mode, this mode iscalled non-angular mode. Each intra prediction mode is associated with amode number (also called intra prediction mode index). For example, thePlanar, DC, horizontal, and vertical intra prediction modes areassociated with mode number 0, 1, 18 and 50, respectively.

In some embodiments, the vertical prediction direction is usingprediction angle v, the vertical-like intra prediction direction isdefined as an intra prediction direction which is associated with aprediction angle that falls into the range of (v−thr, v+thr), where thris a given threshold. In some embodiments, the horizontal predictiondirection is using prediction angle h, the vertical-like intraprediction direction is defined as an intra prediction direction whichis associated with a prediction angle that falls into (h−thr, h+thr),where thr is a given threshold.

According to some embodiments, for different block sizes beyond acertain size, a different number of sub-partitions may be applied. Theblock size may be measured by block area size, block width, blockheight, block width plus height, block width and height. In someexamples, if the block size is not 4×8 or 8×4, the number ofsub-partitions depends on the block size. For example, for larger blocksizes, more sub-partitions may be used.

In some embodiments, when the width of a current block is larger thanthe height, the current block can be vertically split into K partitionsor horizontally split into L partitions, where K and L are positiveintegers, and K is larger than L. In other embodiments, when the heightof current block is larger than the width, the current block can bevertically split into K partitions or horizontally split into Lpartitions, where K and L are positive integers, and K is smaller thanL.

In some embodiments, for a 4×N block with N larger than 8, the block canbe vertically split into K partitions or horizontally split into Lpartitions, where K and L are dependent on the value of N. In oneexample, K is set equal to 2 and L is set equal to 4. In otherembodiments, for N×4 block with N larger than 8, the block can bevertically split into K partitions or horizontally split into Lpartitions, where K and L are dependent on the value of N. In oneexample, K is set equal to 4 and L is set equal to 2.

In some embodiments, for a 4×N block, the block can only be horizontallysplit into K partitions. In other embodiments, for N×4 blocks, the blockcan only be vertically split into K partitions. K may be a positiveinteger such as 4.

In some embodiments, if the block width, height, or aspect ratio islarger than a threshold value, the number of vertical or horizontalsub-partitions depends on the block width or height, respectively.Example threshold values may include, but not limited to, 2, 4, 8, 16,32, 64, and 128. In one example, as shown in FIG. 12A, for a 16×4 block,if the block is partitioned horizontally, 4 sub-partitions are applied,and each sub-partition is 16×1 in size. As shown in FIG. 12B, in oneexample, if the block is partitioned vertically, 2 sub-partitions areapplied, and each sub-partition is 8×4 in size.

According to some embodiments, the number of sub-block partitions maydepend on coded information, including, but not limited to, aneighboring block intra prediction mode, or whether a neighboring blockis intra or inter coded. Depending on how many neighboring blocks arecoded by a non-angular mode (e.g., Planar or DC mode), a differentnumber of sub-block partitions may be applied. In one example, if boththe top and left neighboring blocks are coded by a non-angular mode, asmaller number of sub-block partitions may be applied compared toanother block having at least one of the top and left neighboring blockscoded by an angular mode. In another example, if both the top and leftneighboring blocks are coded by a non-angular mode, ISP is not allowed.

In some embodiments, depending on how many neighboring blocks are codedby an intra prediction mode, a different number of sub-block partitionsmay be applied. In one example, if either the top or left neighboringblock is coded by an intra prediction mode, a smaller number ofsub-block partitions may be applied compared to the number of sub-blockpartitions applied when both top and left neighboring block are coded byan intra prediction mode. In one example, if none of the top and leftneighboring blocks of a current block is coded by an intra predictionmode, ISP is not allowed.

According to some embodiments, a context model used for entropy codingthe ISP partitioning direction (i.e., horizontal partitioning orvertical partitioning) may depend on coded information, including butnot limited to: neighboring intra prediction direction, the coding blocksize. The block size may be measured by block area size, block width,block height, block width plus height, block width and height. In oneexample, the context model is selected based on whether a coding blockwidth is greater than coding block height, or whether a coding blockheight is greater than a coding block width. In one embodiment, thecontext model is selected based on whether neighboring blocks are codedby vertical-like intra prediction directions. In one embodiment, thecontext model is selected based on whether neighboring blocks are codedby horizontal-like intra prediction directions.

According to some embodiments, the intra sub-partitioning direction(i.e., horizontal partitioning or vertical partitioning) is not signaledbut implicitly derived based on coded information, including, but notlimited to, an intra prediction direction of a neighboring block or acoding block size. The block size may be measured by block area size,block width, block height, block width plus height, block width andheight. In one embodiment, for a horizontal coding block which has ablock width larger than a block height, a vertical (or horizontal)sub-partitioning is always used.

In one embodiment, for a vertical coding block which has block heightlarger than width, a horizontal (or vertical) sub-partitioning is alwaysused. In one embodiment, the intra sub-partitioning direction is decidedbased on whether neighboring blocks are coded by vertical-like intraprediction directions. In one embodiment, the intra sub-partitioningdirection is decided based on whether neighboring blocks are coded byhorizontal-like intra prediction directions.

According to some embodiments, for ISP, a mixture of horizontal andvertical sub-partitions can be applied resulting in a coding block thatis partitioned both horizontally and vertically at the same time. In oneembodiment, the mixture of horizontal and vertical sub-partitionsincludes, but not limited to M×N partitions, where M indicates thenumber of sub-partitions along the horizontal direction and N indicatesthe number of sub-partitions along the vertical direction. Examplevalues of M and N includes 2, 3, 4, 8, and 16. In one embodiment, theselection of a pre-defined mixture of horizontal and verticalsub-partitions depends on the coding block size. The block size may bemeasured by block area size, block width, block height, block width plusheight, block width and height.

According to some embodiments, a ternary tree (TT) sub-partitioning isalso applied which partitions a coding block into 3 sub-partitions. Inone embodiment, whether TT sub-partitioning is applied depends on thecoding block size. The block size may be measured by block area size,block width, block height, block width plus height, block width andheight.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a process performed by a videodecoder such as video decoder (710). The process starts at step (S1300)where a coded video bitstream including a current picture is received.The process proceeds to step (S1302) where a block size of a currentblock coded in the intra sub-partition (ISP) coding mode is determined.The process proceeds to step (S1304) where a direction and number ofpartitions of the current block is determined based on the block size.For example, based on the block size, the current block coded in the ISPcoding mode may be split horizontally or vertically with a particularnumber of partitions in accordance with any one of the above-disclosedembodiments. The process proceeds to step (S1306) where the block isreconstructed using the intra prediction mode for each partition. Forexample, each partition of the ISP coded current block may have a sameintra prediction mode, where each partition is decoded based on theintra prediction mode.

The techniques described above, can be implemented as computer softwareusing computer-readable instructions and physically stored in one ormore computer-readable media. For example, FIG. 14 shows a computersystem (1400) suitable for implementing certain embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter.

The computer software can be coded using any suitable machine code orcomputer language, that may be subject to assembly, compilation,linking, or like mechanisms to create code comprising instructions thatcan be executed directly, or through interpretation, micro-codeexecution, and the like, by one or more computer central processingunits (CPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and the like.

The instructions can be executed on various types of computers orcomponents thereof, including, for example, personal computers, tabletcomputers, servers, smartphones, gaming devices, internet of thingsdevices, and the like.

The components shown in FIG. 14 for computer system (1400) are exemplaryin nature and are not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scopeof use or functionality of the computer software implementingembodiments of the present disclosure. Neither should the configurationof components be interpreted as having any dependency or requirementrelating to any one or combination of components illustrated in theexemplary embodiment of a computer system (1400).

Computer system (1400) may include certain human interface inputdevices. Such a human interface input device may be responsive to inputby one or more human users through, for example, tactile input (such as:keystrokes, swipes, data glove movements), audio input (such as: voice,clapping), visual input (such as: gestures), olfactory input (notdepicted). The human interface devices can also be used to capturecertain media not necessarily directly related to conscious input by ahuman, such as audio (such as: speech, music, ambient sound), images(such as: scanned images, photographic images obtain from a still imagecamera), video (such as two-dimensional video, three-dimensional videoincluding stereoscopic video).

Input human interface devices may include one or more of (only one ofeach depicted): keyboard (1401), mouse (1402), trackpad (1403), touchscreen (1410), data-glove (not shown), joystick (1405), microphone(1406), scanner (1407), camera (1408).

Computer system (1400) may also include certain human interface outputdevices. Such human interface output devices may be stimulating thesenses of one or more human users through, for example, tactile output,sound, light, and smell/taste. Such human interface output devices mayinclude tactile output devices (for example tactile feedback by thetouch-screen (1410), data-glove (not shown), or joystick (1405), butthere can also be tactile feedback devices that do not serve as inputdevices), audio output devices (such as: speakers (1409), headphones(not depicted)), visual output devices (such as screens (1410) toinclude CRT screens, LCD screens, plasma screens, OLED screens, eachwith or without touch-screen input capability, each with or withouttactile feedback capability—some of which may be capable to output twodimensional visual output or more than three dimensional output throughmeans such as stereographic output; virtual-reality glasses (notdepicted), holographic displays and smoke tanks (not depicted)), andprinters (not depicted).

Computer system (1400) can also include human accessible storage devicesand their associated media such as optical media including CD/DVD ROM/RW(1420) with CD/DVD or the like media (1421), thumb-drive (1422),removable hard drive or solid state drive (1423), legacy magnetic mediasuch as tape and floppy disc (not depicted), specialized ROM/ASIC/PLDbased devices such as security dongles (not depicted), and the like.

Those skilled in the art should also understand that term “computerreadable media” as used in connection with the presently disclosedsubject matter does not encompass transmission media, carrier waves, orother transitory signals.

Computer system (1400) can also include an interface to one or morecommunication networks. Networks can for example be wireless, wireline,optical. Networks can further be local, wide-area, metropolitan,vehicular and industrial, real-time, delay-tolerant, and so on. Examplesof networks include local area networks such as Ethernet, wireless LANs,cellular networks to include GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE and the like, TVwireline or wireless wide area digital networks to include cable TV,satellite TV, and terrestrial broadcast TV, vehicular and industrial toinclude CANBus, and so forth. Certain networks commonly require externalnetwork interface adapters that attached to certain general purpose dataports or peripheral buses (1449) (such as, for example USB ports of thecomputer system (1400)); others are commonly integrated into the core ofthe computer system (1400) by attachment to a system bus as describedbelow (for example Ethernet interface into a PC computer system orcellular network interface into a smartphone computer system). Using anyof these networks, computer system (1400) can communicate with otherentities. Such communication can be uni-directional, receive only (forexample, broadcast TV), uni-directional send-only (for example CANbus tocertain CANbus devices), or bi-directional, for example to othercomputer systems using local or wide area digital networks. Certainprotocols and protocol stacks can be used on each of those networks andnetwork interfaces as described above.

Aforementioned human interface devices, human-accessible storagedevices, and network interfaces can be attached to a core (1440) of thecomputer system (1400)

The core (1440) can include one or more Central Processing Units (CPU)(1441), Graphics Processing Units (GPU) (1442), specialized programmableprocessing units in the form of Field Programmable Gate Areas (FPGA)(1443), hardware accelerators for certain tasks (1444), and so forth.These devices, along with Read-only memory (ROM) (1445), Random-accessmemory (1446), internal mass storage such as internal non-useraccessible hard drives, SSDs, and the like (1447), may be connectedthrough a system bus (1448). In some computer systems, the system bus(1448) can be accessible in the form of one or more physical plugs toenable extensions by additional CPUs, GPU, and the like. The peripheraldevices can be attached either directly to the core's system bus (1448),or through a peripheral bus (1449). Architectures for a peripheral businclude PCI, USB, and the like.

CPUs (1441), GPUs (1442), FPGAs (1443), and accelerators (1444) canexecute certain instructions that, in combination, can make up theaforementioned computer code. That computer code can be stored in ROM(1445) or RAM (1446). Transitional data can also be stored in RAM(1446), whereas permanent data can be stored for example, in theinternal mass storage (1447). Fast storage and retrieve to any of thememory devices can be enabled through the use of cache memory, that canbe closely associated with one or more CPU (1441), GPU (1442), massstorage (1447), ROM (1445), RAM (1446), and the like.

The computer readable media can have computer code thereon forperforming various computer-implemented operations. The media andcomputer code can be those specially designed and constructed for thepurposes of the present disclosure, or they can be of the kind wellknown and available to those having skill in the computer software arts.

As an example and not by way of limitation, the computer system havingarchitecture (1400), and specifically the core (1440) can providefunctionality as a result of processor(s) (including CPUs, GPUs, FPGA,accelerators, and the like) executing software embodied in one or moretangible, computer-readable media. Such computer-readable media can bemedia associated with user-accessible mass storage as introduced above,as well as certain storage of the core (1440) that are of non-transitorynature, such as core-internal mass storage (1447) or ROM (1445). Thesoftware implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure canbe stored in such devices and executed by core (1440). Acomputer-readable medium can include one or more memory devices orchips, according to particular needs. The software can cause the core(1440) and specifically the processors therein (including CPU, GPU,FPGA, and the like) to execute particular processes or particular partsof particular processes described herein, including defining datastructures stored in RAM (1446) and modifying such data structuresaccording to the processes defined by the software. In addition or as analternative, the computer system can provide functionality as a resultof logic hardwired or otherwise embodied in a circuit (for example:accelerator (1444)), which can operate in place of or together withsoftware to execute particular processes or particular parts ofparticular processes described herein. Reference to software canencompass logic, and vice versa, where appropriate. Reference to acomputer-readable media can encompass a circuit (such as an integratedcircuit (IC)) storing software for execution, a circuit embodying logicfor execution, or both, where appropriate. The present disclosureencompasses any suitable combination of hardware and software.

Appendix A: Acronyms

-   JEM: joint exploration model-   VVC: versatile video coding-   BMS: benchmark set-   MV: Motion Vector-   HEVC: High Efficiency Video Coding-   SEI: Supplementary Enhancement Information-   VUI: Video Usability Information-   GOPs: Groups of Pictures-   TUs: Transform Units,-   PUs: Prediction Units-   CTUs: Coding Tree Units-   CTBs: Coding Tree Blocks-   PBs: Prediction Blocks-   HRD: Hypothetical Reference Decoder-   SNR: Signal Noise Ratio-   CPUs: Central Processing Units-   GPUs: Graphics Processing Units-   CRT: Cathode Ray Tube-   LCD: Liquid-Crystal Display-   OLED: Organic Light-Emitting Diode-   CD: Compact Disc-   DVD: Digital Video Disc-   ROM: Read-Only Memory-   RAM: Random Access Memory-   ASIC: Application-Specific Integrated Circuit-   PLD: Programmable Logic Device-   LAN: Local Area Network-   GSM: Global System for Mobile communications-   LTE: Long-Term Evolution-   CANBus: Controller Area Network Bus-   USB: Universal Serial Bus-   PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect-   FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Areas-   SSD: solid-state drive-   IC: Integrated Circuit-   CU: Coding Unit

While this disclosure has described several exemplary embodiments, thereare alterations, permutations, and various substitute equivalents, whichfall within the scope of the disclosure. It will thus be appreciatedthat those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systemsand methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein,embody the principles of the disclosure and are thus within the spiritand scope thereof.

(1) A method of video decoding performed by a video decoder, includingreceiving a coded video bitstream including a current picture;determining a block size of a current block coded in the intrasub-partition (ISP) coding mode; determining a direction and number ofpartitions of the current block based on the determined block size; anddecoding the current block based on the determined direction and numberof partitions of the current block.

(2) The method according to feature (1), in which the current block ispartitioned into one of (i) K vertically split partitions and (ii) Lhorizontally split partitions.

(3) The method according to feature (2), in which in response to adetermination that a width of the current block is larger than a heightof the current block, K is greater than L.

(4) The method according to feature (2), in which in response to adetermination that a height of the current block is larger than a widthof the current block, K is smaller than L.

(5) The method of feature (4), in which in response to a determinationthat the block size of the current block is 4×N and N is greater than 8,K and L are dependent on N.

(6) The method of feature 5, in which K is 2 and L is 4.

(7) The method according to any one of features (3)-(6), in which inresponse to a determination that the block size of the current block isN×4 and N is greater than 8, K and L are dependent on N.

(8) The method of feature (7), in which K is 4 and L is 2.

(9) The method of any one of features (1)-(8), in which in response to adetermination that a width of the current block is greater than athreshold, the number of vertical partitions is based on the width ofthe block.

(10) The method of any one of features (1)-(9), in which in response toa determination that a height of the current block is greater than athreshold, the number of horizontal partitions is based on the height ofthe current block.

(11) The method of any one of features (1)-(10), in which a contextmodel used to entropy encode the direction of the partitioning of thecurrent block is selected based on the determined block size.

(12) The method of any one of features (1)-(11), in which a contextmodel used to entropy encode the direction of the partitioning of thecurrent block is selected based on a partitioning direction of one ormore neighboring blocks that are coded in the ISP coding mode.

(13) A video decoder for video decoding, including processing circuitryconfigured to: receive a coded video bitstream including a currentpicture, determine a block size of a current block coded in the intrasub-partition (ISP) coding mode, determine a direction and number ofpartitions of the current block based on the determined block size, anddecode the current block based on the determined direction and number ofpartitions of the current block.

(14) The video decoder according to feature (13), in which the currentblock is partitioned into one of (i) K vertically split partitions and(ii) L horizontally split partitions.

(15) The video decoder according to feature (14), in which in responseto a determination that a width of the current block is larger than aheight of the current block, K is greater than L.

(16) The video decoder according to feature (14), in which in responseto a determination that a height of the current block is larger than awidth of the current block, K is smaller than L.

(17) The video decoder of feature (16), in which in response to adetermination that the block size of the current block is 4×N and N isgreater than 8, K and L are dependent on N.

(18) The video decoder of feature (17), in which K is 2 and L is 4.

(19) The video decoder according to any one of features (15)-(18), inwhich in response to a determination that the block size of the currentblock is N×4 and N is greater than 8, K and L are dependent on N.

(20) A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructionsstored therein, which when executed by a processor in a video decodercauses the processor to execute a method including: receiving a codedvideo bitstream including a current picture; determining a block size ofa current block coded in the intra sub-partition (ISP) coding mode;determining a direction and number of partitions of the current blockbased on the determined block size; and decoding the current block basedon the determined direction and number of partitions of the currentblock.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of video encoding performed by a videoencoder, comprising: receiving a video bitstream including a currentpicture; determining a block size of a current block to be coded in anintra sub-partition (ISP) coding mode; determining a direction andnumber of partitions of the current block based on the determined blocksize, wherein the number of the partitions of the current block to becoded in the ISP coding mode is greater than 4; and encoding, in the ISPcoding mode, the current block based on the determined direction andnumber of partitions of the current block.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the current block is partitioned into one of (i) Kvertically split partitions and (ii) L horizontally split partitions. 3.The method according to claim 2, wherein, in response to a determinationthat a width of the current block is larger than a height of the currentblock, K is greater than L.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein,in response to a determination that a height of the current block islarger than a width of the current block, K is smaller than L.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein, in response to a determination that theblock size of the current block is 4×N and N is greater than 8, K and Lare dependent on N.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein K is 2 and L is 4.7. The method according to claim 3, wherein, in response to adetermination that the block size of the current block is N×4 and N isgreater than 8, K and L are dependent on N.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein K is 4 and L is
 2. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein, inresponse to a determination that a width of the current block is greaterthan a threshold, a number of vertical partitions is based on the widthof the current block.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response toa determination that a height of the current block is greater than athreshold, a number of horizontal partitions is based on the height ofthe current block.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein a context modelused to entropy encode the direction of the partitions of the currentblock is selected based on the determined block size.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a context model used to entropy encode the direction ofthe partitions of the current block is selected based on a partitioningdirection of one or more neighboring blocks that are coded in the ISPcoding mode.
 13. A video encoder for video encoding, comprising:processing circuitry configured to: receive a video bitstream includinga current picture, determine a block size of a current block to be codedin an intra sub-partition (ISP) coding mode, determine a direction andnumber of partitions of the current block based on the determined blocksize, wherein the number of the partitions of the current block to becoded in the ISP coding mode is greater than 4, and encode, in the ISPcoding mode, the current block based on the determined direction andnumber of partitions of the current block.
 14. The video encoderaccording to claim 13, wherein the current block is partitioned into oneof (i) K vertically split partitions and (ii) L horizontally splitpartitions.
 15. The video encoder according to claim 14, wherein, inresponse to a determination that a width of the current block is largerthan a height of the current block, K is greater than L.
 16. The videoencoder according to claim 14, wherein, in response to a determinationthat a height of the current block is larger than a width of the currentblock, K is smaller than L.
 17. The video encoder of claim 16, wherein,in response to a determination that the block size of the current blockis 4×N and N is greater than 8, K and L are dependent on N.
 18. Thevideo encoder of claim 17, wherein K is 2 and L is
 4. 19. The videoencoder according to claim 15, wherein, in response to a determinationthat the block size of the current block is N×4 and N is greater than 8,K and L are dependent on N.
 20. A non-transitory computer readablemedium having instructions stored therein, which, when executed by aprocessor in a video encoder, cause the processor to execute a methodcomprising: receiving a video bitstream including a current picture;determining a block size of a current block to be coded in an intrasub-partition (ISP) coding mode; determining a direction and number ofpartitions of the current block based on the determined block size,wherein the number of the partitions of the current block to be coded inthe ISP coding mode is greater than 4; and encoding, in the ISP codingmode, the current block based on the determined direction and number ofpartitions of the current block.